Display

Display size has always been a big part of the Compact series and its allure, but definitely not in the conventional "the bigger, the better" way. As already mentioned, loyal fans of the Compact line and especially the Z3 Compact value it as a representative of a rare breed of small and pocket-friendly devices with powerful hardware.

As such, it is great that Sony has realized the need to retain the phone's small footprint and consequently, its sub 5-inch display, though we gotta tell you that we would say the perceptions have been on the move this past year and now a 5-incher can easily pass as a compact device in a flagship duo. Then again, that may have put it way too close to the Xperia Z5.

The screen on the Xperia Z5 Compact is 4.6 inches in diagonal and with the same 720 x 1280 pixel resolution as a year ago. It is also the same IPS LCD variety, but that is not necessarily a bad thing, especially considering the name length of all the tech Sony has reportedly put inside - things such as Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2, Triluminos technology and X-Reality engine for mobile come to mind (and being able to quote those on the top of our heads can't be a healthy thing for sure).

That aside, we would have appreciated a higher resolution screen, especially considering that more budget-friendly phones are rocking FullHD panels nowadays. The size of the screen could have also used some improvement, or rather its proportions relative to the bezels, which seem to be bigger compared to those of the Z3 Compact (68.9% screen to body ratio, instead of 70.65). But that may be us just nitpicking.

The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact's IPS LCD has an ordinary RGB matrix and our tests revealed that it is a pretty nice panel. The maximum display brightness is spectacularly high at 680 nits. Unlike some other Xperia phones we've seen, this brightness level is available in both auto and manual brightness modes. The display contrast ratio in both modes is very good but not excellent mostly due to the comparatively grayish blacks.

Color rendering without image enhancements is off to a higher extent than we're used to seeing lately (Avg deltaE 6.3 for the primary colors plus black and white). It's the whites to blame as they have a relatively high purplish tint (deltaE 14.5). Still, you would certainly have a hard time noticing the color cast without some sort of a reference.

Color accuracy of course takes an extra hit when you turn on the screen image enhancements such as the X Reality for mobile mode. The maximum brightness however is reduced in these modes down to about 630-640 nits but the overall contrast is improved (blacks get deeper) as long as you're checking out photos or watching videos.

Display test

50% brightness

100% brightness

Black, cd/m2

White, cd/m2

Contrast ratio

Black, cd/m2

White, cd/m2

Contrast ratio

Sony Xperia Z5 compact

0.10

106

1060

0.65

680

1053

Sony Xperia M5

0.08

110

1392

0.63

527

839

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

-

-

-

0.77

725

942

HTC One M9

0.15

175

1180

0.44

534

1221

OnePlus Two

0.16

180

1139

0.30

399

1334

ZTE Nubia Z9

0.29

258

893

0.49

440

898

Lenovo Vibe X2

0.16

188

1196

0.38

447

1188

LG G4

0.09

108

1240

0.43

532

1238

LG G Flex2

0.00

152

∞

0.00

398

∞

Xiaomi Mi 4

0.17

164

940

0.73

679

929

Huawei P8lite

0.09

73.7

784

0.45

362

802

Samsung Galaxy Alpha

0.00

228

∞

0.00

456

∞

Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML

0.13

107

796

0.44

390

879

Samsung Galaxy S5

0.00

274

∞

0.00

529

∞

Motorola Nexus 6

0.00

149

∞

0.00

372

∞

Motorola Moto X (2014)

0.00

167

∞

0.00

358

∞

As usual, display colors are a matter of personal taste and perception so if you don't need calibrated color output, you will probably be quite happy with the default settings of the Xperia Z5 Compact display.

You can fine tune the display color rendering to an extent as Sony gives you fine grain sliders for adjusting the Red, Green and Blue channel, but the UI is far from user friendly and unlikely to produce any serious results without a reference point sitting side by side with the display. Even worse, as soon as you start fiddling with those sliders, the maximum brightness will take a hit.

Sunlight contrast ratio

Nokia 808 PureView4.698

Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+4.615

Samsung Galaxy E74.485

Samsung Galaxy A34.241

Samsung Galaxy S6 edge4.124

Samsung Galaxy S64.124

Samsung Galaxy Note54.09

Samsung Galaxy Note 44.033

Samsung Galaxy Note 33.997

Apple iPhone 53.997

Samsung Galaxy A53.895

Samsung Galaxy J7 outdoor3.879

Samsung Galaxy A83.859

Apple iPhone 63.838

Motorola Moto X (2014)3.816

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge3.799

Apple iPhone 6s3.783

Vivo X5Pro3.706

Samsung Galaxy A73.679

Oppo R53.678

Samsung Galaxy K zoom3.675

Nokia Lumia 9303.567

Apple iPhone 5s3.565

Samsung Galaxy S53.549

Nokia Lumia 7353.547

Motorola Nexus 63.543

Apple iPhone 6s Plus3.53

Alcatel Idol X+3.527

Apple iPhone 5c3.512

Samsung Galaxy Alpha3.509

Oppo R7 Plus3.499

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo3.487

vivo X5Max3.472

LG G Flex23.465

YotaPhone 23.453

Samsung Galaxy J73.422

Motorola RAZR MAXX3.42

Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III3.419

Meizu MX53.416

Samsung Galaxy S5 Active3.406

Nokia Lumia 9253.402

Gionee Elife S5.53.386

Samsung I9505 Galaxy S43.352

Oppo R73.32

Samsung Omnia W3.301

Samsung Galaxy S5 mini3.174

Samsung I9000 Galaxy S3.155

Samsung Ativ S3.129

Samsung I9190 Galaxy S4 mini3.127

Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom3.118

Nokia N93.069

Microsoft Lumia 640 XL3.065

Apple iPhone 6 Plus3.023

Samsung Galaxy Note2.97

Samsung Galaxy Premier2.958

Sony Xperia Z12.95

HTC One S2.901

Lenovo S90 Sisley2.892

Samsung I8730 Galaxy Express2.861

BlackBerry Q102.856

Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II2.832

Sony Xperia Z3+ 2.824

HTC Desire Eye2.815

Gionee Elife S5.12.812

Samsung Galaxy S II Plus2.801

BlackBerry Z302.79

Sony Xperia Z5 compact2.784

Meizu MX4 Pro2.765

Sony Xperia M52.69

Sony Xperia ZR2.672

Huawei Ascend P12.655

Xiaomi Mi 4i2.641

Sony Xperia Z32.618

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact2.616

Sony Xperia T32.609

BlackBerry Passport2.595

Microsoft Lumia 6402.563

Nokia Lumia 9002.562

Motorola Moto G 4G2.546

HTC One Max2.537

Nokia Lumia 7202.512

HTC One2.504

Sony Xperia M4 Aqua2.503

Motorola Moto G2.477

vivo Xshot2.465

Sony Xperia Z2.462

Xiaomi Mi 42.424

Samsung Galaxy S III mini2.422

Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro2.416

LG G Flex2.407

Huawei Honor 72.406

HTC Desire 8202.372

HTC One (M8)2.371

Motorola RAZR i2.366

Meizu MX42.366

Meizu m1 note2.362

Sony Xperia ZL2.352

HTC One M92.334

LG G42.317

Samsung Galaxy Note II2.307

HTC One E9+2.305

HTC One (M8) for Windows2.291

Oppo R1x2.281

Oppo Find 7a2.279

Alcatel One Touch Hero2.272

Apple iPhone 4S2.269

HTC Desire 600 dual sim2.262

Sony Xperia C5 Ultra2.253

Nokia Asha 3112.25

Sony Xperia C4 Dual2.235

Xiaomi Mi Note2.234

Motorola Moto G (2014)2.233

LG Nexus 52.228

Huawei P82.196

Nokia Lumia 8202.193

HTC One (E8)2.185

Oppo N32.181

Nokia Lumia 9202.17

Huawei Honor 62.169

Xiaomi Redmi Note 22.166

OnePlus Two2.165

HTC One X2.158

Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML2.149

LG Aka2.145

Nokia N82.144

Nokia Lumia 6202.142

Nokia 5152.134

Archos 50 Diamond2.134

HTC Desire 5002.129

Sony Xperia C3 Dual2.12

Xiaomi Redmi Note2.119

Sony Xperia acro S2.119

Nokia Lumia 10202.103

Oppo Find 52.088

Sony Xperia SL2.078

Huawei P8lite2.078

Nokia Lumia 6302.056

BlackBerry Z102.051

Moto G 3rd gen max manual2.026

Huawei Ascend Mate72.024

Samsung I9295 Galaxy S4 Active2.022

Apple iPhone 42.016

HTC One mini2.003

Xiaomi Mi 32.001

Huawei Ascend P71.992

LG G21.976

Sony Xperia E4g1.972

OnePlus One1.961

Oppo R8191.957

Sony Ericsson Xperia ray1.955

Lenovo Vibe X21.952

Sony Xperia Z21.944

Sony Xperia E31.943

Nokia Lumia 13201.941

HTC One mini 21.94

Samsung Galaxy Camera1.938

Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime1.935

Sony Xperia J1.932

Acer CloudMobile S5001.931

ZTE Blade S61.927

LG Nexus 41.926

LG G Pro 21.922

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.31.913

Nokia Asha 3081.911

HTC Butterfly 21.905

Sony Xperia T1.894

Meizu m2 note1.892

BlackBerry Leap1.892

Nokia Lumia 8301.887

HTC Desire X1.878

HTC Windows Phone 8X1.873

HTC Butterfly1.873

HTC Butterfly S1.867

Huawei Ascend P61.865

Huawei Ascend Mate1.845

LG G2 mini1.838

LG G31.82

Nokia Lumia 15201.813

HTC Desire 616 dual sim1.797

Sony Xperia V1.792

HTC Desire 8161.783

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact1.772

HTC Desire 700 dual sim1.769

ZTE Nubia Z9 mini1.759

Sony Xperia U1.758

Meizu MX31.754

LG Optimus G1.753

Sony Xperia T2 Ultra1.74

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact1.735

Acer Liquid Jade S1.734

Sony Xperia SP1.733

LG Optimus 4X HD1.691

Oppo Find 71.691

HTC One V1.685

BlackBerry Q51.682

LG Optimus Vu1.68

Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen)1.675

Xiaomi Mi Pad 7.91.672

LG Optimus GJ1.666

ZTE Nubia Z91.659

LG Optimus 3D Max1.658

HTC Desire V1.646

Samsung Galaxy Xcover 21.632

Samsung Galaxy Ace 31.622

Microsoft Lumia 5321.615

Jolla Jolla1.605

Microsoft Lumia 4351.598

Sony Xperia Z Ultra1.578

Sony Xperia go1.577

Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 I81601.566

Samsung Galaxy Core1.563

LG Optimus G Pro1.552

Motorola Moto E1.545

LG Optimus 3D1.542

Nokia Asha 3021.537

Samsung Galaxy Core Prime1.507

BlackBerry Curve 93201.488

Sony Xperia M1.473

Oppo N11.47

Sony Xperia E41.467

Meizu MX 4-core1.462

Nokia Lumia 6101.432

Samsung Galaxy S Duos1.4

Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo1.393

Sony Xperia M21.393

Microsoft Lumia 5351.393

Samsung Galaxy Grand 21.38

Sony Xperia E11.372

Nokia Lumia 6251.371

Gigabyte GSmart G13551.361

Sony Xperia L1.351

Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.81.35

Xiaomi Redmi 1S1.35

HTC Desire 5101.34

Sony Xperia M2 Aqua1.331

Sony Xperia miro1.324

Samsung I9082 Galaxy Grand1.321

Samsung I8530 Galaxy Beam1.315

Xiaomi Redmi 21.311

HTC Desire C1.3

Nokia X1.291

Sony Xperia C1.283

Nokia Asha 5031.281

Nokia Asha 5011.27

LG Optimus L71.269

Nokia Lumia 5101.268

Samsung Galaxy Fame1.245

LG Optimus L91.227

Meizu MX1.221

Samsung Galaxy Young1.22

Sony Xperia E1.215

Nokia XL1.204

Sony Xperia E dual1.203

Asus Memo Pad 7 ME176C1.198

Samsung Galaxy Pocket1.18

Nokia Asha 3051.178

Nokia Asha 3061.175

Sony Xperia neo L1.169

Sony Xperia tipo1.166

Nokia Lumia 5201.161

Samsung S6802 Galaxy Ace Duos1.148

Samsung Galaxy mini 21.114

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact battery life

The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact is powered by a 2700 mAh battery, sealed-in, as expected. That is just a tad less than the Z5 at 2900 mAh, but still poses an upgrade over the Z3 Compact, with its 2600 mAh battery.

Overall, the phone offers excellent battery performance with a total endurance rating of 86 hours, but sadly, if we measure it by the high standards set by its predecessor and its whopping 101 hours, it is not nearly as impressive.

Still, it is a nice and solid performance and well above average too. It means that the Z5 Compact should be more than happy to facilitate two days of average use, or at least our understanding of it - one hour of browsing, video playback and calls a day, respectively and the rest - standby.

Such usage pattern is of course entirely artificial, but we've established it so our battery results are comparable across devices.

We were particularly impressed with the 28 hours of talk time the Z5 Compact managed to score. The web browsing and video playback performance are also solid, but if you are a heavy talker, it is worth noting that the small phone excels in this department.

And if the aforementioned usage scenario, just doesn't fit your bill, you can easily hop on to our battery life chart and adjust the pattern to your liking for an even more comprehensive comparison.

Connectivity

The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact comes only in a single SIM variant, which was also the case with its predecessor. Perhaps, Sony could have spiced things up in this generation with a dual-SIM offer.

The handset offers quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA support. LTE is enabled and Sony has multiple regional models to make sure the Xperia Z5 Compact will work with the most widespread 4G networks.

Local connectivity features dual-band Wi-Fi b/g/n/ac and Wi-Fi Direct. There is also support for Bluetooth 4.1 with A2DP. Satellite navigation is also a given, with additional A-GPS and GLONASS or Beidou (market dependent) support.

The Xperia Z5 Compact also has an FM radio with RDS. The phone doesn't offer an IR port, but it does come with NFC.

There is a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data connections and now, thanks to special coating, it no longer needs to be covered by a flap. Media transfer mode is supported for accessing the phone's built-in memory and microSD card over the USB cable. USB host functionality is present, but requires a little more work than simply plugging in a device. There is a special menu under Xperia Connectivity in the setting that allows you to "discover" a plugged USB device. It still works as expected, but it requires some extra legwork.

Being part of the premium "Z" line has a few other benefits, like MHL 3 TV-out support. You can also output your phone's screen wirelessly via the Miracast protocol or Sony's Xperia Connectivity Throw option.

The app also lets you share your media over DLNA by creating a media server, as well as connect to a PlayStation DUALSHOCK 3 (or 4) wireless controller